Could Colin Kaepernick become the XFL’s first major star?
An XFL spokesman confirmed to Sporting News on Monday that Kaepernick talked with executives about joining the league this past fall.
The XFL declined to divulge details of the Kaepernick contract talks. But sources said the former 49ers quarterback wanted at least $20 million to suit up for new spring football league. Mark Geragos, Kaepernick's attorney, did not return an email from SN seeking comment.
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The revelation of the XFL talks follows the Associated Press' report that the 31-year-old former Super Bowl quarterback also talked with the new Alliance of American Football (AAF) before its recent launch.
Owned by WWE tycoon Vince McMahon, the reborn XFL is expected to sign its first wave of players during the first quarter of 2019. The swashbuckling McMahon is nothing if not a showman. Signing Kaepernick would be the kind of headline-making acquisition that would draw TV viewers and media coverage toward the XFL when it kicks off in February 2020. Oliver Luck, father of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, serves as the XFL's commissioner and chief executive officer.
Kaepernick recently settled his collusion case against the NFL. His talks with both the XFL and AAF indicate he wants to play after a two-year absence. But unless he climbs way down from his contract demands of at least $20 million per season, the chances of him playing for either of the new spring football leagues are remote.
Yes, McMahon is a showman. But he's also a businessman. His new eight-team league is looking to pay starting quarterbacks $250,000 a season, sources said.
The new AAF, led by co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian, is even stricter when it comes to player payroll. Each AAF player has unguaranteed three-year contracts worth $250,000.
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But $20 million a year for a quarterback is nothing special in the deep-pocketed NFL.
The league boasts 16 quarterbacks making an average of at least $20 million per season, according to ProFootballTalk, citing data from overthecap.com
Aaron Rodgers of the Packers tops the league with an average annual salary of $33.5 million, according to Forbes, followed Matt Ryan of the Falcons and Jimmy Garoppolo of the 49ers at $30 million annually apiece.
During a recent appearance on CNN, Geragos boldly predicted that his client would sign with an NFL club, dangling the Super Bowl champion Patriots and Panthers as possible landing spots.
During a video presser introducing the XFL, McMahon sounded open to Kaepernick playing in the league. But he also indicated he'd like players/coaches to leave their politics at home.
President Donald Trump bashed Kaepernick and other kneeling NFL players who protested for racial justice during the playing of the U.S. national anthem.
This is football reimagined. This is the XFL. Watch the official announcement — LIVE NOW! #XFL2020 https://t.co/KFX5oLmkHw
— XFL (@xfl2020) January 25, 2018
McMahon said he had "no idea" whether Trump would support the XFL. But he vowed his league would have "nothing to do" with politics or social issues. He thinks it's appropriate for players and coaches to stand for the national anthem.
"The national anthem is a time-honored tradition. ... So whatever our rules are, is what everyone will abide by," McMahon said at the time.
On Monday, the XFL announced Seahawks legend Jim Zorn as the new coach of the league's Seattle-based club. All eight inaugural teams will be owned by the league.
The previous XFL, launched by McMahon's WWE and NBC Sports, was a dismal failure, lasting only one season in 2001.
